This post is dedicated to all my east coast friends out there who are glued to the weather channel. As you know Hurricane Irene is on her way and from what everyone is saying she will be bringing some major damage with her. The news will tell you to make sure you have an emergency kit, gas in your car, food and water. The question many people ask is what exactly should be in my emergency kit? I mean honestly how many of us actually own emergency kits? So to make it easy, and trust me I am no expert, I have research the web to bring you everything you need to know. Below you will find a list of things you should be prepared with in case of an emergency.
Emergency Kits should include:
- a flashlight with spare batteries
- chemical light sticks
- a battery-operated radio and clock
- first-aid kit
- canned, freeze-dried or dehydrated food
- a manual can opener
- bottled water
- blankets
- baby supplies
- important phone numbers
- cash (ATMs may not be operating)
- and other specialty items, such as prescription medication
Was that helpful? Maybe, except for the first aid kit part…another kit?? Ok, here we go…
First Aid Kits should include:
- Adhesive tape
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic solution or towelettes
- Bandages, including a roll of elastic wrap (Ace, Coban, others) and bandage strips (Band-Aid, Curad, others) in assorted sizes
- Instant cold packs
- Cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs
- Disposable latex or synthetic gloves, at least two pairs
- Duct tape (because duct tape can do anything!)
- Gauze pads and roller gauze in assorted sizes
- Eye goggles
- Petroleum jelly or other lubricant
- Plastic bags for the disposal of contaminated materials
- Safety pins in assorted sizes
- Tooth preservation kit consisting of salt solution and a sealable travel case
- Scissors, tweezers and a needle
- Soap or instant hand sanitizer
- Sterile eyewash, such as a saline solution
- Thermometer
- Triangular bandage
- Turkey baster or other bulb suction device for flushing out wounds
Now let’s talk about food because when there is no power I suddenly feel like I haven’t eaten in weeks! First thing first, if you know that there is a storm coming I would recommend turning your refrigerator on the coldest setting. Try to keep your fridge closed as much as possible. A fridge will stay cold up to 4 hours if unopened (yikes!) A full freezer will keep it’s temperature for 48 hours and 24 hours if it is only half full. Here is a list of food to purchase.
25 Foods to Buy:
- Unrefrigerated Meats – I don’t know about you but that kind of scares me.
- Instant Rice – all you need is boiling water
- Salsa – can be eaten with rice or chips
- Individual Packets of Sweetener
- Marinara Sauce
- Juice Boxes
- Box of Couscous – again all you need is boiling water and it takes just minutes to cook
- Canned Beans
- Canned Tuna fish
- Bottled Water – rule of thumb is 3 gallons of water for every person in the household
- Canned Vegetables
- Individual Fruit Cups – buy the fruit in water, not syrup
- Pudding Snack Cups – the kind that is found on shelves that doesn’t need to be refrigerated
- Canned Nuts – protein rich!
- Crackers
- Cookies – cause we need something sweet and bad for us!
- Pet Food
- Baby Food
- Dried Fruit
- Individual Soup Servings
- Powdered Drinks -the mixes can be added to water for flavor
- Mini Cereal Boxes
- Granola Bars
- Beef Jerky
- Tea Bags
I hope you all find this helpful. Remember to also make sure your car has a full tank in case you need to travel and in case gas stations are out. Also try to have all of your laptops and cell phones charged. iPads, tablets, Kindles and portable dvd players should also be charged so you don’t lose your mind! Don’t forget a nice bottle of red wine which doesn’t need to be chilled!
😉
Here’s hoping Irene doesn’t ruin the weekend!
Stay Safe